A Tale of Two Swabian Caves

Christopher Miller uses the powerful tools of Geoarchaeology to rewrite the history of human occupation at Geißenklösterle and Hohle Fels caves in the Ach Valley of southwestern Germany.

“Hohle Fels and Geißenklösterle are two remarkable sites in southwestern Germany and both play a key role in helping us understand the transition from the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic in Europe. This work involves a painstaking examination of the deposits in the field and in the laboratory using soil micromorphology to document clearly this important change in human history. It represents a methodological yardstick that other geoarchaeological studies of caves – or any type of site – should emulate.“ – Paul Goldberg, Professor, MicroStratigraphy Laboratory, Department of Archaeology, Boston University